In this week's Torah portion, Terumah: Exodus 25:1-27:19, G-d tells Moses to, "Speak to the children of Israel, and have them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering." The offerings in the form of donations are used to build a portable tabernacle, where G-d will dwell among them in their sojourn through the desert. Our sages explain that, "They shall make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell within them" means that G-d will dwell "within each and every one of them."
To dwell within each of us, each of us has to be born. This ought to go without saying; however, in this age of legal elective abortion being born is not guaranteed,. For many Jewish children, being born is out of the question because their parent chooses to extinguish their life while still in the womb. Rarely do Jews talk about our use of abortion, but the reality is frightening, the numbers astonishing, the loss of life tragic, and the heartache inconsolable.
30,000 Jewish abortions occur in Israel every year. Every week 576 Israeli Jewish pre-born children die a violent death from abortion.* It is estimated that 2 million Jewish children in Israel have died in this way since 1948.** 1.3% of the weekly 23,000 US abortions are Jewish. Every week nearly 300 US Jewish pre-born children die a violent death from abortion. It is estimated that 780,000 Jewish children in America have died in this way since 1973.*** (60 million x .013)
As Jews, we feel the loss of each and every one of these children. We also recognize the loss of every innocent, vulnerable child unable to escape death by abortion. Regardless of ethnicity, circumstance of conception, or socioeconomic background, each child who is denied life because of a painful abortion death - starved, burned, dismembered, poisoned, or killed intact for 'research' - denies us all the opportunity to donate our time and resources for the care and nurturing of a precious person created for the purpose of providing a sanctuary for G-d in this earthly abode.
We suffer a spiritual death each time an abortion death occurs. This is no small matter - in spiritual terms or in real terms. Abortion death numbers overwhelm the psyche and the soul, challenging us to acknowledge the sheer magnitude of this self induced epidemic and to rectify it. To view the number of deaths in real time, visit the Abortion Clock.
"We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." Eli Wiesel
Gevalt! She IS alive before She's born!
Please Visit Our Website For Ways To Help In Your Area
